Volkswagen Amarok PHEV firming

The new Volkswagen Amarok is set to employ Ford technology to electrify as a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) as soon as 2025.

Multiple Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles executives confirmed at this week’s global launch drive in South Africa that the PHEV drivetrain was under consideration for the new 4x4 dual-cab ute, which goes on sale in turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel form in Australia in April 2023.

They downplayed any chance of the Amarok also electrifying in mild-hybrid or plugless hybrid form, even though its Ford-developed T6 architecture is package protected for those systems.

As we reported here, a fully electric Amarok and an all-electric spin-off SUV might launch as soon as 2027.

An Amarok PHEV would employ Ford technology because the VW ute is a collaborative development effort with the Ford Ranger. The VW not only uses Ford’s T6 ladder chassis but also employs Blue Oval drivetrains.

Current production Ford PHEVs include the 167kW 2.5-litre drivetrain in the Ford Escape, the 330kW 3.0-litre unit in the Ford Explorer and the 1.0-litre system in the Ford Tourneo and Transit, where the triple-cylinder engine acts as a range-extender for the e-motor.

There is no confirmation what PHEV drivetrain could be bound for Amarok.

Plug-in T6 models are already reported to be under development by Ford. Media speculation has included a turbo-petrol four-cylinder PHEV, probably using the 2.3-litre Mustang engine that power the Ranger in the US and the latest Amarok Aventura in Australia.

The PHEV plan was discussed during a media roundtable by Amarok global product manager Peter Sulc, who told carsales that proposed future Euro 7 emissions regulations due for introduction no sooner than 2025 were driving Volkswagen’s thinking.

Other execs separately offered a three-to-four-year timeframe for the introduction of an Amarok PHEV and confirmed the use of Ford drivetrains.

“The mild-hybrid I don’t see as a possible based on this [Euro 7] draft but we have to wait [to see] what is the final version,” Sulc said.

“As of now what I see personally I see the way for the PHEV.”

Regulations also dictated the push toward petrol-electric rather than diesel-electric PHEV technology, Sulc added.

“The [emissions] requirements for diesel are much higher than for the petrol... Technically it is easier to bring PHEV for petrol engines.”

Sulc indicated it would be imperative a PHEV Amarok retained the full carrying and towing capacity of the orthodox ICE Amarok.

That could potentially mean the use of a smaller, lighter and smaller-capacity high-voltage storage battery that would reduce emissions-free running.

“I personally see the solution in the lowering of the electrical range,” he said. “If you put less battery you will be capable to towing and keep payload.

“Again, it’s about the payoff of electrical range. In the VW we do have now 100km electrical. Technically I see the solution as the lowering of the electrical range.

“For the green guys they would be unsatisfied, because it’s not so much range… it is the kind of compromise. For the petrol guys – for me – it’s enough.”

While mild-hybrid and hybrid drivetrains offer incremental fuel-saving and performance assistance, plug-in hybrids provide the ability to drive short but substantial distances on electrical power alone.

However, because they offer little financial advantage over EVs they have had limited sales success in Australia.

Globally, ute builders are choosing more often to go for the EV option rather than the PHEV halfway house.

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